Shoeing FAQ - How Often Should My Horse Be Re-Shod?

Guidelines for Resetting Your Horse's Shoes

Your horse will need to re-shod approximately every six weeks. Image Credit:By:Stephan/ Zabel E+ /Getty Images

Question: How Often Should My Horse Be Re-Shod or Have Its Shoes Reset?

Answer: Having your horse's shoes taken off, the hoof trimmed and the shoes then reapplied is called resetting or re-shoeing. Plan to have the farrier reset your horse’s shoes approximately every six weeks.. Keeping shoes on your horse’s hooves requires a bit more maintenance and attention than keeping your horse barefoot. Leaving shoes on can make your horse more prone to problems like under run heels, cracks, thrush under the shoe, contracted heels and long toes.

Much of this is because the hoof is not wearing like it would if the horse was walking bare foot on any surface that would file it down naturally. The shoes should be shaped to the horse’s feet for a custom fit If there pads used with the shoes, these too can hide problems underneath like thrush and seedy toe.

When the shoes are reset, the farrier will pull the shoes off, trim the hoof growth off, shape the hoof and nail the same shoes back on. Because there is no natural wear on the hoof, as there would be if your horse was barefoot, the hooves may seem to grow a bit faster. Your farrier may have to reshape the shoes, especially if correcting a problem. Shoes can be reset as long as there is no excessive wear to the metal. This will depend on what terrain you have been riding on. Shoes may only last one or two resets if you are riding over particularly abrasive surface look rock, but may last months if your horse walks mainly on grass.

Once the shoes start to thin a new set will have to be put on. The initial shoeing will cost more than a reset.

Signs that your horse's shoes need to be reset are:

Loose nails that push up from the hoof wall.

Nails that seem to protrude further out of the shoe on the underside than when they were first put on.

A shoe has come off altogether.

The hoof is starting to overgrow the shoe and is getting out of shape.

That doesn’t mean you should wait until you should seen one of these signs. Most of these are signs the the shoes have been on too long, although nails can loosen and shoes twist or wear prematurely. Six weeks is a general guideline for good hoof health. This is also about the time a horse that is barefoot will have to be trimmed. Some horses may need to be reset sooner, and some longer. Don’t leave shoes on for months. This can damage the hoof, and overgrown hooves can lead to soft tissue damage like strained tendons and ligaments.

Your farrier is the best person to consult with to determine just when a reset is due. They can recommend the type of shoes, a schedule and any corrective work that could be done to enhance your horse’s health. The condition of your horse’s hooves should not deteriorate because they have shoes on. A good shoeing job will maintain or even improve your horse’s hoof health while allowing you to ride over a variety of terrains without hurting your horse.